Tuesday I had a meeting with “the men.” We gather together once a week to read some scripture, talk about its meaning, and share our lives. It was a good time and I was ready to head back home, but recently had been hit by a desire for a Dr. Pepper Slushy at McDonalds.

Rarely do I stop at fast food places, but where else would I find such a delicacy. The McDonalds near us is renovating the inside, so there is only the drive-up, I avoid the drive-up if I can. I like to interact with people so if I go to a fast food place, I go inside.

Being in another town where, hopefully they are not renovating their establishment, I thought it was a perfect time to attempt to satisfy this unusual desire. I would go to the closest McDonalds in this other town. The path to the closest one I would have to go through roadwork and it was almost twice the time as well as .1 miles further.

So off I went. At the traffic light I was stopped longer than I thought I needed to be. I mean the person ahead of me was turning right, but they were staying in the regular lane not going around the person in front of them.

I tried to be patient and not attempt to squeeze by the parked car to my right and the person ahead of me. Finally, the light changed and after the semi, two vehicles a head of me, made their right turn and then the car ahead of me followed, I went.

I noticed as I looked down the street I just turned on to and saw flashing red lights signaling an oncoming train. I told myself patience may need to grow in my life again. But then myself said, “No! We are turning on to a side street.” I made my way over and went through the parking lot of a restaurant to head back towards the first McDonalds I had seen, which now didn’t seem to be so far away.

Once there I went in to order my drink, but forget to change my sunglasses to regulars. The board was lit up with a back ground that made sunglass reading impossible. I apologized to the cashier and asked her to tell me what I needed to know for my order. She was very accommodating and soon I had my medium size Dr. Pepper Slushy ordered.

While waiting for my number to be called the cashier was cleaning up the pick up counter when another employee came up to her with a Mango Smoothie. She took it and then looked at me. She beckoned me over and asked if I would be willing to have a free drink which they found out they didn’t need.

Bonus!!! Not only did I get the Slushy of my dreams, but I got the Mango Smoothie to accompany it. If I hadn’t taken the time to head down to the first McDonalds, waited at the light, turned off to change destinations and wandered in with my sunglasses I would have never had this unexpected pleasure.

I enjoyed both drinks and said I thank you not only to this pleasant cashier, but to the one who allows us to receive what we don’t deserve. Maybe it was my reward for being patient, or maybe not, maybe I just need to be reminded that there are special times in our lives when we will get a little bonus added to our lives. Patience and Gratitude seem to go hand in hand.

Blessings,

Randy, a Beach with another view.